Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
Menu
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
Menu
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Your state news
  • Request a free trial
Menu
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Your state news
  • Request a free trial

Medical professionals gather as part of BNF to remember former leader, learn, serve

  • November 10, 2021
  • Dianna L. Cagle
  • Alabama, Latest News, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Woman's Missionary Union
David George, president of the WMU Foundation, places a brick in memory of Lori Spikes, who served as executive director/treasurer of Baptist Nursing Fellowship from 2018-2020. She died in November 2020 after a battle with COVID-19.
(Photo by Dianna L. Cagle/The Alabama Baptist)

Medical professionals gather as part of BNF to remember former leader, learn, serve

A gathering of medical professionals capitalized on a weekend event in Birmingham to host a clinic to help an Irondale community.

Baptist Nursing Fellowship held its annual summit Nov. 5–7 at the national Woman’s Missionary Union office in Birmingham.

Physical, spiritual impact

Using the two-year theme, “Touch Twice in Jesus’ Name” — highlighting both the physical and spiritual impact Christian medical professionals can make — the event drew 47 registrants from across the country.

“As a Christian, I love the people that God made and that God loves,” said Gretchen Schuttger, a nurse from Austin, Texas, attending her first BNF summit.

Being a nurse allows her to meet the theme’s emphasis on both physical and spiritual levels, she noted.

Schuttger’s grandmother told her the medical calling started when she was just three years old, but she remembers it more clearly as a teenager. Even then, “it wasn’t really until I got to nursing school that I realized how passionate I was.”

Cindy Lowman remembered taking a parish nursing course through BNF when she lived in Alabama.

“It’s a way to fellowship with other nurses who are like-minded in faith,” said Lowman, who now lives in Saint Amant, Louisiana.

Part of the draw of BNF is medical missions trips. Claudia Hayes of Hillmon Grove Baptist Church in Cameron, North Carolina, listed several countries — Guatemala, Honduras, Brazil, Armenia, South Africa — and several places in the United States where nursing has taken her.

“I like being involved with Christian nurses who support each other and who focus on the compassion Jesus offers to those in need of health care,” she said.

Honoring a leader

The gathering included a brick-laying ceremony in memory of Lori Spikes, BNF’s former executive director/treasurer, who died Nov. 21, 2020, after being hospitalized with COVID-19. The ceremony included Debby Akerman, a BNF member and former national WMU president; David George, president of the WMU Foundation; Marilyn Graves, who was installed over the weekend as new executive director/treasurer; Charolette Rock, BNF president-elect; Jim Spikes, husband to Lori and former missionary to Chile; and Sandy Wisdom-Martin, national WMU executive director-treasurer. Other officers include: Deborah Bolian, president; Hayes, student liaison; Benita Decker, communications; Charlotte Wyckoff, missions and prayer; Pam Allsbrook, education chair; and Judy Dillow, resource development. Akerman will stay on in an advisory capacity.

“Lori always faced tomorrow with a smile,” Akerman said during the ceremony.

In speaking of his wife, Spikes said she first started caring for her father, who was an invalid, when she was a child.

“That’s where she discovered her vocation,” Spikes noted.

He spoke of her willingness to serve many times in the shadows, especially when on the missions field. He took “great joy in seeing her come back to the United States” and blossom as part of BNF, an organization he said fulfilled and excited her.

While BNF was started in 1985 exclusively for nurses, membership now is open to others: first responders, pharmacists, social workers, etc.

Two of Lori and Jim’s daughters also attended, Amanda Johnson and Allyn Farmer, both of Germantown, Tennessee. They have another sister, Andrea Spikes; and there are five grandchildren.

Medical clinic

To close out the last day of the summit, BNF joined with Iglesia Agape to offer a medical clinic to more than 40 patients in Irondale.

“We always have a missions component” to the annual event, Graves noted.

Pastor Pablo Moscoso was excited about the opportunity to minister to some of his congregation as well as the community. Several church members helped with the clinic along with BNF volunteers and a screening team from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

He reported two salvation decisions as a result.

Following in her footsteps

Graves, who teaches nursing at Central College in Lynchburg, Virginia, served with Spikeses in Chile. Taking on the new leadership role and following in her friend’s footsteps is a “tremendous honor” and a “great responsibility.”

Graves said she wants BNF to be the first thought when considering medical missions. COVID-19 spoiled plans for efforts in 2020–21, but she said a trip to Ukraine is planned for 2022, and she would like to return to Thailand where they volunteered two years ago. BNF is planning domestic trips as well and hoping for partners for all its missions endeavors.

Share with others:

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on email
Email

Latest News

  • Georgia church baptizes 204 new believers so far this year
    Georgia church baptizes 204 new believers so far this year
    May 19, 2022/
    0 Comments
  • Ministering to abuse survivors requires careful, thoughtful approaches
    Ministering to abuse survivors requires careful, thoughtful approaches
    May 19, 2022/
    0 Comments
  • Comedian Tim Hawkins enjoying life as an ‘under-the-radar celebrity’
    Comedian Tim Hawkins enjoying life as an ‘under-the-radar celebrity’
    May 18, 2022/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Georgia church baptizes 204 new believers so far this year

Cascade Hills Baptist Church, which on average has baptized someone every day since 2015, appears on track to have one of its best years ever

Ministering to abuse survivors requires careful, thoughtful approaches

With the issue of sexual abuse in the headlines for Southern Baptists the past several years, The Center for Women in Ministry at Beeson Divinity

Comedian Tim Hawkins enjoying life as an ‘under-the-radar celebrity’

A self-described “under-the-radar celebrity,” Tim Hawkins admitted he cries when he hears Diana Ross sing and if he wasn’t a comedian, he would own a

No matter the cost: Missionary task passes down three generations

Crawly things moved all over the rancid slab of off-colored meat. The village leader reverently handed it to the visiting missionary, motioning for him to

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Contact us
Menu
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
Menu
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
Menu
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
Menu
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2022 The Baptist Paper
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
Menu
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
Menu
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Donate
  • Contact us
Menu
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel